Posts Tagged ‘Gas Drilling Injuries & News’

Drinking water to at least three (3) properties in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania suffered methane gas pollution due to faulty drilling procedures by Cabot Natural Gas according to DEP officials. The water pollution violations occurred in September, 2011. DEP failed to post the violations as required by law. DEP officials noted failure to post was an “oversight”. Meanwhile, Cabot is supplying fresh water to the affected properties and is trying to correct the problems. Water contamination at or near natural gas drilling rig sites has been a primary issue with environmental groups overseeing natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale drilling regions of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

The thirteen (13) personal injury lawyers at Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP–DLP–PENNSYLVANIA TRUCK ACCIDENT, DRILLING RIG ACCIDENT AND CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYERS–continue to follow this and other natural gas drilling issues in Tioga, Susquehanna, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Inquirer today reports on issues outstanding over disposal of fracking waste water/liquids following earthquakes at a waste disposal deep well site near Youngstown Ohio. The fracking drilling process in the Marcellus shale region of Pennsylvania creates significant liquid waste containing many pollutants. Originally processed and released into Pennsylvania streams and rivers, the waste is now either recycled–the preferred method according to gas industry leaders—or trucked to deep well disposal sites mostly in Ohio. Environmental critics are citing the Youngstown earthquakes as another example of unregulated drilling and disposal of hazardous waste. Industry insiders note that there are hundreds of deep well disposal sites, and the Youngstown site earthquakes are unusual events and not the norm.

The thirteen (13) lawyers at Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP-DLP–PENNSYLVANIA CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT/INJURY LAWYERS–continue to follow this and other isuues affecting the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling regions of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. DLP has been hired recently to handle gas truck accidents, quarry explosion accident,, fracking pump explosion accident and auto/gas truck accidents in Tioga, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Bradford Counties, Pennsylvania.

Attorneys Joe Price and John Finnerty of Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP—DLP; PENNSYLVANIA CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYERS—have been hired to investigate a fracking pumper explosion at a natural gas drill rig site in Tioga County. The explosion resulted in serious injuries to DLP’s client. The investigation into what caused the explosion is currently ongoing.

With the ever-growing number of employees working in the Marcellus Shale gas drilling field comes the increasing risk of workers being injured on the job. Here at Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, we have the experience to assist you in the litigation of your workers compensation injury claim should you be injured on the job. A work injury can often be the result of the negligence of a third party. In such situations, the injured worker, in addition to having a claim against his employer under the Workers Compenastion Act, may also have a civil liability claim against the negligent third party whose action caused or contributed to the injury. The lawyers at DLP will carefully review your case to insure that all of your rights are properly protected and that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.

The law team at Dougherty, Leventhal and Price, LLP has filed a Federal Lawsuit this week against a drilling company and its’ driver who caused a violent accident causing multiple injuries and a fatality.  A Mack Truck loaded with approximately 3,000 gallons of mud was overweight and driving at speeds greater than posted. As a result, it failed to stop at a stop sign. The driver turned into an oncoming lane and violently impacted a Subaru legacy carrying two passengers seriously injuring one and killing the other.

The entire complaint may be viewed here. (PDF)

A federal judge has denied a motion by Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation to dismiss a case brought by Dimock Township residents two years ago. The residents claim their water, health, and property was damaged by the Pennsylvania natural gas driller. Cabot motioned to have a federal judge throw out the case brought by over 60 residents of the Susquehanna County township. The gas company has argued that the families failed to establish a legal basis for the law suit against them.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Cabot could stop delivery of clean water by November 30. This was outlined in a December 2010 settlement between the DEP and Cabot.

The settlement also required that:

• Cabot offer to install methane-removal systems
• Fund escrow accounts with twice the tax-assessed value of each of the 19 affected Susquehanna County homes.

However, this settlement did not require the company to restore the water to its pre-drilling quality. Now Dimock Township residents are making last-minute push to prolong the water deliveries from Cabot. In a recent petition for an injunction, the families state the department’s settlement terms ignored state law, which requires drillers to permanently restore or replace water supplies contaminated by their operations. Cabot is denying contamination was caused by their drilling activities. Their argument is that the appeal came too late from the Dimock residents. Cabot is also claiming their well water is safe to drink and even if it were not, the Dimock residents could get their own fresh water delivered “at modest cost” or collect it from a local well in Montrose.

Filed almost two years ago in November of 2009, the Susquehanna County residents of Dimock, Pennsylvania claimed Cabot Oil and Gas’s drilling activities introduced methane and other toxins into their properties and drinking water, causing illness, property damage, fear of future sickness and emotional distress. Pennsylvania courts have not directly addressed whether gas drilling is an “abnormally dangerous” activity that fits the strict liability standard.

With the moratorium on natural gas drilling in New York apparently about to end, the debate over gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing is in full swing.  Reports today in the New York Times indicate that folks in Cooperstown, New York are facing off over permitting gas drilling rigs in the community.  The New York issues mirror those still ongoing in Pennsylvania.  The thirteen (13) lawyers at DLP: PENNSYLVANIA TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS AND MARCELLUS SHALE GAS DRILLING RIG INJURY/ACCIDENT LAWYERS, continue to follow this and other Marcellus shale gas drilling issues in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

Dougherty Leventhal & Price,  DLP,  notes that partner John Finnerty is investigating a death which occured at the Veteran’s Medical Center.  Attorney Finnerty has retained experts to assist his clients.  Attorney Finnerty is one of twelve lawyers at DLP–Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers—handling serious injury cases throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.  Attorney Finnerty along with Attorneys Cal Leventhal and Tom Cummings handle Pennsylvania Workers Compensation cases in the Marcellus Shale Gas Counties including Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming, Susquehanna, Potter, Tioga and Lycoming.  DLP–PENNSYLVANIA TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS.

Reports out of Albany note a push by the Governor to lift the gas drilling rig ban and fracking ban in the State of New York.  The push is for gas drilling rigs to be allowed on private land.  Construction of gas drilling rigs on public land would remain an issue for further study. The twelve lawyers at DLP continue to represent people seriously injured in accidents at gas drilling rig sites, tractor trailer/truck accidents and other serious accidents in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier of New York.

Reports out of Albany note a push by the Governor to lift the gas drilling rig ban and fracking ban in the State of New York.  The push is for gas drilling rigs to be allowed on private land.  Construction of gas drilling rigs on public land would remain an issue for further study. The twelve lawyers at DLP continue to represent people seriously injured in accidents at gas drilling rig sites, tractor trailer/truck accidents and other serious accidents in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier of New York.